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Fireworks Show Held On 3rd

Setting up early. Brett Glover of Premier Pyrotechnics checks the shells for the firework show held at Bearcat Stadium on July 3.

Green to celebrate Red, White & Blue

A shell explodes at Bearcat Stadium Thursday night.

By Glenn M. Parrish

Democrat Editor

Booneville City Ordinance No. 583 states it is unlawful to discharge fireworks inside the city limits of Booneville except on July 4th between the hours of 11 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

However, and thankfully for fireworks fans, the ordinance did not extend to city events like the annual fireworks show because it went off as hurriedly planned on Thursday, July 3 last week.

Booneville Police Chief Al Brown chuckled Thursday when asked if the ordinance would be enforced against the city and said “I guess not since I signed off on the permit (for the show) today.”

The show was moved to July 3 after the Booneville Development Corporation/South Logan County Chamber of Commerce decided not to pay half of the cost of the show — $5,000 of late — as has been the case for several years.

Because the BDC/Chamber also typically schedules the event that left Booneville Mayor Jerry Wilkins scrambling to organize a show. In the end he had to consent to move the show to July 3 to secure Premiere Pyrotechnics to provide a shooter and the fireworks for the show.

Stacey McCollough of the BDC/Chamber said the decision to not participate in the show was simply one of a lack of funds for the organization.

McCollough previously stated the decision on the fireworks was delayed until after the Booneville Open Cow Pasture Pool because the golf tournament was one of the funding sources for the Chamber, and poor weather made for a poor fundraiser.